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Nigel Edwards named Walker captain again
Nigel Edwards has declared himself ‘proud’ to be given the opportunity to captain the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team for the third team, after being given the task of leading the side at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s in 2015.
The Welshman, twice a winner in the biennial battle with the USA as a player, will have the chance to lift the trophy for the second time as a captain and, at the same time, avenge a disappointing defeat at the National Golf Links of America last year when the two sides meet in Lancashire next year.
The 45-year-old will also serve as captain of GB&I’s St Andrews Trophy side that will take on the Continent of Europe’s leading players at Barseback in Sweden this August.
“I’m very proud to have the opportunity to captain the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team for a third time in 2015,” said Edwards. “It will also be a privilege to lead the St Andrews Trophy team for a third time this year.
“Both events have long histories and we will be aiming to win back the trophies. I am looking forward to continuing my involvement and using my past experience as both a player and captain to make sure the players are prepared to play to the best of their ability.”
“Nigel Edwards has demonstrated great passion and pride for the Walker Cup and the St Andrews Trophy” – Jonathan Plaxton
A long-time member of Whitchurch Golf Club in Cardiff, Edwards played in four successive Walker Cup matches between 2001 and 2007. His finest hour came in GB&I’s 2003 victory at Ganton Golf Club, holing the winning putt, finishing undefeated and as the match’s leading points-scorer.
After twice playing on the winning side, Edwards completed a hat-trick of wins by captaining GB&I to victory in the 2011 match at Royal Aberdeen, before last year’s disappointing defeat in the US.
In addition to his Walker Cup successes, Nigel Edwards – currently the Performance Director for England Golf – has been part of three victorious GB&I teams in the St Andrews Trophy, featuring in the winning 2002, 2004 and 2006 teams at Lausanne in Switzerland, Nairn in Scotland and Marianske Lazne in the Czech Republic respectively.
He captained the teams which lost to the Continent of Europe at Castelconturbia in Italy in 2010 and Portmarnock in 2012.
Explaining the decision to re-appoint Edwards, Jonathan Plaxton, chairman of the R&A Selection Committee, said: “Nigel Edwards has demonstrated great passion and pride for the Walker Cup and the St Andrews Trophy and we are very pleased that he has accepted the invitation to lead the GB&I teams both this year and next.
“He has proven to be very popular with the players and his experience in the amateur game will continue to be a tremendous asset as he prepares teams for the St Andrews Trophy and the Walker Cup.”
Nigel Edwards: The right man for the job?
Do you agree with the decision to give Nigel Edwards the Walker Cup captaincy reins for a third time? Can GB&I win back the trophy next year? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.
